Star on Sunday lies refuted

Dublin Sinn Féin Councillor Nicky Kehoe has slammed as "disgraceful gutter journalism" a story in last weekend's Star on Sunday tabloid linking a Dublin Sinn Féin activist with one of the city's most notorious heroin and cocaine dealers.

This was the latest in a series of recent articles, all based on information allegedly provided by unattributable and unnamed so-called republican and Garda sources, designed to sow seeds of dissent within the republican community.

The Dublin Sinn Féin activist in question is incensed at the accusation and is taking legal advice. He points out that he has never been arrested in his life and that he has had no contact with this or any other criminal. "Everyone knows what republicans' attitudes are towards drug dealers," he told An Phoblacht. "This man is the lowest of the low and I am deeply offended, embarrassed and extremely angry that a newspaper should see fit to make up such a potentially damaging pack of lies."

"Although he was not named, anyone who knows this young man could easily figure out from the photograph and description who he is," said Councillor Kehoe. "This is reminiscent of the smear tactics used by the British tabloids in the past against republicans.

"This man is a key election worker in Dublin. It is no great surprise that, just as the party stands an excellent chance of winning its first European election seat in the city and of making substantial gains in the local elections, this sort of malicious nonsense is thrown at us. The rationale behind it is if you throw enough mud, some of it will stick."

The article in question is just the latest in a vicious campaign directed against republicans by the Star on Sunday tabloid in recent weeks, padded out with gossip and bolstered by conveniently unnamed sources.

Dublin Councillor Christy Burke says that the drug dealer concerned is a notorious and reviled figure in Dublin's Sheriff Street area. "Sinn Féin has consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with communities against the dealers and the despair and death they peddle," he said. "The people of Sheriff Street know from years of working together that we stand full square with them against the dealers and their activities. Stories such as this have zero credibility in this area.

"For our part, republicans have more political sense than to be distracted or taken in by this sort of mud slinging. We have elections to focus on over the next weeks and we will not be deflected from making the gains that we feel our work on behalf of communities across Dublin and beyond merit."